CUPONE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pescocanale - Italy

CUPONE is a wastewater treatment plant located in Pescocanale, a frazione of Capistrello in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,300 people, making it a small-scale facility within the Italian wastewater infrastructure. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges treated effluent into the local watershed. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 2,500 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of about 258 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent from CUPONE is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Liri River basin. This river flows through central Italy and eventually reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Liri River and downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and preventing eutrophication in the coastal zone.

CUPONE discharges into the Liri River basin, which flows through the Apennine mountains and eventually reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Liri River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as trout and barbel. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality and preventing algal blooms in the coastal marine environment.